THEMATIC ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION

Transcription

1 MONRE THEMATIC ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION Prepared by: Viet Nam NCSA Team Department of Environment Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Hanoi, September 2005

2 MEMBERS OF STEERING COMMITTEE, NCSA PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS AND PROGRAM OFFICERS OF VIETNAM NCSA THEMATIC ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION STEERING COMMITTEE: Dr. Truong Manh Tien, Director General, Department of Environment, MONRE Dr. Nguyen Van Tai, Deputy Director General, Department of Environment, MONRE Mr. Luu Quang Khanh, Deputy Director General, Department of Foreign Economics Relation, MPI Mr. Nguyen Xuan Bao Tam, Deputy Director General, International Cooperation Department, MONRE Mr. Phung Van Vui, Deputy Director General, Vietnam Environment Protection Agency, MONRE Ms. Pham Minh Thoa, Deputy Head of Planning Department, Forest Development Department, MARD NCSA PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT: Dr. Nguyen Van Tai, National Project Director Huynh Thi Mai, National Project Coordinator Phan Thi Ha, Project Assistant EXPERT GROUP: Dr. Nguyen Huy Phon, Dr. Vu Thu Hanh, Professor Associate, Dr. Vo Khanh Vinh, Dr. Le Quoc Huy, Ms. Tine Rossing Feldman. PROGRAMME OFFICERS: Mr. Dao Xuan Lai, Programme Officer, UNDP Vietnam Ms. Huynh Thi Thu Ba, Programme Officer, UNDP Vietnam

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages TABLE OF CONTENTS... i LIST OF ACRONYMS...ii TABLES...iii BOXES... iv INTRODUCTION... 1 PART I. UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND THE PARTICIPATION OF VIETNAM Overview on United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification The participation in United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification of Vietnam... 6 PART II. OVERVIEW ON UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME IN VIETNAM Present situation and causes of desertification in Vietnam Objectives of National Action Programme Prioritized programmes/projects Prioritized areas Implementation organization PART III. ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS IN COMBATING DESERTIFICATION OF GOV AND UNCCD Achievements Evaluation on achievements Capacity constraints in UNCCD implementation PART IV. ASSESSMENT OF CAPACITY FOR PRIORITY ISSUES Capacity of the Focal Point of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Capacity to fulfill requirements of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Identifying priority level Capacity assessment at 3 levels and functions to capacity requirements (priority issues) Capacity needs to meet requirements under the UNCCD CONCLUSION REFERENCES i

4 LIST OF ACRONYMS COP CRIC 5MHRP FSC FSSP&P GEF GMS HEPAP IUCN MARD MOA MOF MONRE MPI MDGs NAP NAPE NCB NFP OG Conference of Parties Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention Five Million Hectare of Reforestation Project Forest Stewardship Council Forest Sector Support Programme and Partnership Global Environmental Facility Greater Mekong Sub-region Hunger Eradication and Poverty Alleviation Programme The World Conservation Union Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Finance Ministry of National Resources and Environment Ministry of Planning and Investment Millennium Development Goals National Action Programme National Action Programme of Environment National Coordination Body National Focal Point Office of Government OP15 GEF Operation Programme N o 15 RAP/SRAP Regional/Sub-Regional Action Programme STAG Science & Technology Advisory Group TPN Thematic Programme Network UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCOD United Nations Conference on Desertification UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme WWF World Wide Fund for Nature WB World Bank ii

5 TABLES Pages Table 1. Classification of Land degradation in Vietnam Table 2. Responsibility assignment for NCB members Table 3: Members of the Science and Technology Advisory Group (STAG) Table 4: SWOT analysis in capacity to formulate policies, legislation, strategies and programmes Table 5: SWOT analysis in capacity to implement policies, legislation, strategies and programmes Table 6: SWOT analysis in capacity to engage and build consensus among all stakeholders Table 7: SWOT analysis in capacity to mobilize information and knowledge.. 32 Table 8: SWOT analysis in monitoring, evaluating, reporting and learning Table 9. Matrix for ranking priorities in capacity building Table 10. Capacity requirements to the 1 st ranked priorities Table 11: Strengthening scientific and practical quality in planning process Table 12: Strengthening knowledge and management, planning skills Table 13: Survey for data collection, establishing computerized database and information sharing mechanism inside and outside the country Table 14: Increasing resources Table 15: Strengthening study capacity and effect Table 16: Finding lively and practically methods to increase propagation effect on environment conservation, sustainable development and combating desertification Table 17: Developing early warning system with suitable criteria and indices. 40 Table 18: Capacity needs to meet requirements under the UNCCD iii

6 BOXES Pages Box 1. Article 5 - Part II. Obligations of affected country Parties... 5 Box 2. Article 10 - Part III. National Action Programme... 5 Box. 3. Assessment criteria (UNDP/GEF Toolkit) Box 4. List of requirements under the Convention iv

7 INTRODUCTION This report aims at assessment of nation capacity on combating desertification through analysis of capacity needs, priorities and constraints in the framework of meeting the global environmental objectives as well as obligations of a party country to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Available data, information (as Nation Reports, National Action Programme, legislation documents, Development Strategies, etc.) and consultative comments from stakeholders and management agencies concerned will be used for analyzing. This report will be undertaken as following process: Establishing a consultant group to assess capacity to implement the UNCCD; Reviewing the stock-taking assessment report on the UNCCD implementation; Preparing outline for thematic assessment report by the consultants; Collecting and gathering data and information necessary for thematic assessment; Reviewing and identifying priority issues in combating desertification; Analyzing to identify constraints to such priorities. Findings and conclusions of Stocktaking Report, obligations and requirements of UNCCD to its party are important references for the study. Conducting interview agencies related to UNCCD in Vietnam 1 for information and capacity assessment to implement UNCCD in Vietnam; The National Self-Assessment is conducted at 3 levels (i) Systematic; (ii) Institutional; and (iii) Individual. Assessment criteria initiated in the Guide for Self-Assessment of Country Capacity Needs for Global Environmental Management of UNDP/GEF will be adapted. Identifying opportunities for capacity building to release or eliminate above-mentioned constraints. SWOT is used to assess the UNCCD implementation in Vietnam; Conducting workshops to consult wide range of stakeholders for completing NCSA reports 2. 1 A questionnaire used for interview is in Annex I 2 A list of workshop participants is illustrated in Annex II 1

8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY After being the 134 th party of UNCCD (Nov. 1998), Vietnam has actively rolled in the convention implementation and to date obtained remarkable achievements. Six national conferences 3 were held during to discuss on implementation of UNCCD in Vietnam. Apart from sector communication unit, NCB has launched lots of campaigns in combination with public information organizations to broadly disseminate information on UNCCD as well as to seek partners inside and outside of the country. The UNCCD implementation was officially launched in Vietnam since the end of This started with establishment of management system, development of the NAP, by seeking for partners, disseminating information about UNCCD and NAP, proceeding technical and scientific cooperation and information exchange and completing the preferential legal environment for the Convention implementation. Vietnam has prepared Nation Reports in 2000, 2002 and now 2005 under completion. The first National Action Programme (NAP) was prepared in 2002 with an active cooperation from national sectors and international organizations in both expertise and financial aspects. Due to having the essential coincidence of objectives, many programmes/projects of Vietnam and UNCCD have been harmoniously integrated in NAP and continuously implemented though NAP is still under further complement. Those are 5MHR Project and others in Hunger Eradication and Poverty Alleviation or Environment Conservation Programmes. Vietnam Government has made certain achievements in implementing the UNCCD and actions to combat desertification: (i) Strengthening institutions and policies: adopting law documents concerned as Law on Forest Protection and Development 2004, Land Law 2003, Law on Water Resources 1998, some other strategic documents, NAP, policies supporting management of land, water and forest resources; (ii) Implementing programmes/projects combating desertification relating to land, water and forest resources and conducting hunger eradication and poverty alleviation in order to reduce pressure on the natural resources; (iii) Carrying out surveys and research projects on forest resources assessment and monitoring, increasing forest management, improving degraded soils in mountainous provinces and limiting sulfatization and salinization in coastal provinces, combating moving 3 The national conference on preparing Vietnam initial national communication; The national workshop to prepare NAP; The national conference on preparing Vietnam second national communication; The national workshop to implement the UNCCD in ; Meetings of Science & Technology Advisory Group (STAG); Consultancy conferences of donors. 2

9 sand dune in coastal provinces, managing water resources in arid and semiarid areas in the Central, upgrading irrigation system, developing forecasting system to limit negative impacts of drought in rural and upland areas; (iv) Conducting training, education and information exchange on combating desertification; (v) Conducting hunger eradication and poverty alleviation; (vi) Enhancing international cooperation and partnership. Priorities in combating desertification in Vietnam include: Sustainable water management; Forest protection and development; Promoting the sustainable land and land use management; Disaster impacts mitigating and forecasting; Having a thorough understanding of desertification process, warning about the impacts of land degradation in four areas that are prioritized to combat land desertification; Doing research and training on environment; Developing plans and policies on environment; Controlling population growth rate so as to reduce pressure on natural resources; Making plans to develop urban areas and industrial zones. The study has revealed some constraints in capacity, which needs to be solved in UNCCD implementation in Vietnam as follows: Limited vision and weak skills in developing and implementing organization of strategies or integrated development plans; Conception on combating desertification people from legislation to individual levels is not yet so high and so is the sense of respecting laws of not less people that has resulted the deforestation, use of land and water resources in waste way get more serious; Lack of a wellorganized information system to serve monitoring, evaluation and forecasting; monitoring and evaluation process is not conducted regularly; Scientific and practical quality of research outputs is rather limited; The cooperation among sectors and among NAP Parties is not so closely; Resources (materials and human) are very limited both in quantity and quality. Such above-mentioned findings will help orienting for development of capacity building solutions in Vietnam. 3

10 PART I. UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND THE PARTICIPATION OF VIETNAM 1.1. Overview on United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification The serious degradation of land and the appearance more and more arid areas has threaten livelihood of over 900 million people in about 100 countries or 25% the total land area of the planet. Main reasons of the desertification are the unreasonable use of land and natural resources plus unusual changes of the global climate. Desertification is synonymous with increasing diseases, hunger and poverty and low food productivity threatening hundreds million of poor to migrate for their livelihoods. To enable joint action of the international community to combat desertification, the draft of UNCCD was submitted for consideration in the Summit Meeting on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June After one year for consulting contribution from more than 100 counties, the UNCCD was at last completed in June 1994 and opened for all UN party countries signing on October In December 1996, only 50 countries acceded, but the number of UNCCD party reached 191 countries. That reconfirmed the desertification to be a worldwide problem, which, the whole world community has been aware of a joint action to combat. Objectives of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification: Develop National Action Programme, Sub-Regional Action Programme (SRAP) and Regional Action Programme (RAP) to prevent and combat drought and desertification; Call for financial aid from international community to combat desertification; Exchange of information and technologies in field of combating desertification; Preventing bad consequences of desertification leading to mass migration of people, extinction of many species of fauna and flora, and changes of climate, etc. In regards of party obligations: Apart from common obligations (Article 4, Part I) The Parties shall implement their obligations under this Convention, individually or jointly, either through existing or prospective bilateral and multilateral arrangements or a combination thereof, as appropriate, emphasizing the need to coordinate efforts and develop a coherent long-term strategy at all levels, UNCCD has stipulated 4

11 obligations particular for countries those located in desertification-affected areas and for each region (Article 5. Part II). Box 1. Article 5 - Part II. Obligations of affected country Parties In addition to their obligations, affected country Parties undertake to: (a) Give due priority to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, and allocate adequate resources in accordance with their circumstances and capabilities; (b) Establish strategies and priorities, within the framework of sustainable development plans and/or policies, to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought; (c) Address the underlying causes of desertification and pay special attention to the socio- economic factors contributing to desertification processes; (d) Promote awareness and facilitate the participation of local populations, particularly women and youth, with the support of non-governmental organizations, in efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought; and (e) Provide an enabling environment by strengthening, as appropriate, relevant existing legislation and, where they do not exist, enacting new laws and establishing long-term policies and action programmes. Additionally, UNCCD requirements are also come in Article 10 to National Action Programme. Box 2. Article 10 - Part III. National Action Programme 1. The purpose of national action programmes is to identify the factors contributing to desertification and practical measures necessary to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. 2. National action programmes shall specify the respective roles of government, local communities and land users and the resources available and needed. They shall, inter alia: (incorporate long-term strategies to combat desertification; be sufficiently flexible at the local level to cope with different socio-economic, biological and geo-physical conditions; give particular attention to the implementation of preventive measures for lands that are not yet degraded or which are only slightly degraded; enhance national capabilities and the means to provide for drought early warning; promote cooperation and coordination of local populations and community groups, and facilitate access by local populations to appropriate information and technology, development and implementation of NAP); 5

12 3. National action programmes may include, inter alia, some or all of the following measures to prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought: establishment and/or strengthening, as appropriate, of early warning systems at the sub-regional and regional levels; establishment and/or strengthening, as appropriate, of food security systems, including storage and marketing facilities, particularly in rural areas; establishment of alternative livelihood projects; and development of sustainable irrigation programmes. 4. Taking into account the national action programmes. In addition to the above requirements, to increase the socio-economicenvironment effect of the combat of desertification, in May 2003, GEF in its Operational Programme N o 15 (OP15) recommended to mitigate the causes and negative impacts of land degradation on the structure and functional integrity of ecosystems through sustainable land management practices as a contribution to improving people s livelihoods and economic well-being. This means one should combat desertification by using integrated and cross-sectoral approaches, within the framework of sustainable development at the local, national and/or transboundary levels The participation in United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification of Vietnam Background Being an agriculture-based and populous country, Vietnam has possessed about 9 million hectares of uncultivated land (mainly hilly exhausted land), which are threatened to be more seriously degraded. Most of said-land is rural areas where a great number of local inhabitants (especially ethnic groups) are under poor living conditions. Besides, soil fertility is also reduced and threatened to be fully exhausted caused by soil erosion, washing away, lateritization, sulfatization and salination. Forest resources are in considerable decline. The forest cover in 1943 was 43%, which lowed down to 33% in 1976 and to 28% in Forests were most seriously destroyed in two periods and That had increased area of barren land and as a result, reduced ecosystems. Forest cover now is better with 36% but still less than 7% compared with that of Water pollution is also not less serious due to the abuse of industrial chemicals in many areas. Underground water has been decreased both in quantity and quality. Risk of water short in coming decades is realistic. In recent 5 years, as hot and very little rain weather heavy droughts occurred in many areas particular in Central Vietnam. There were 6-month successive droughts in 1998 covering a large area caused by El nino phenomena. That resulted in too bad impacts for 6

13 agriculture and forestry in many localities of which the most serious are in the Central and Western Highlands. Earth crack and earth slide are also more frequently and seriously happen especially in Mekong Delta. There 51 sites of land collapse resulted 350 ha of land lost were recorded. Total loss was estimated as thousands of VND billion. This kind of calamity is forecasted to increase and land loss area may reach tens of thousand hectares. The un-controlled exploitation of sea products is an essential agent to land and water resources. Fishing has been concentrated along seashore with various exterminatory manners as explosive or poisoning. Water and land pollution along the coast get more and more increased. Oil is the main pollution concentrating in areas around large harbours, oil exploitation or transportation sites. The oil contents in seawater have been continually increased (in the Central and the Southeast Vietnam increased 7-20 times during ). Since 1989, the economic system of Vietnam has changed from the concentrated planned mechanism to market-oriented mechanism. Such an innovation has marked outstanding progresses especially in hunger eradication and poverty alleviation (a food-scarcity country became the second biggest country of the world in the rice export, in 2005 with 5.2 million tons) and in implementation of programmes/projects for environment conservation. A number of laws relating to desertification combat had been promulgated during the period of Vietnam has stressed its responsibilities/ commitments in joining the world community in global environmental issues by signing agreements to become parties of several international conventions on environment. A number of programmes and projects have also been intensively implemented since In parallel with law promulgation, Vietnam has implemented a number of national programmes/projects which contained activities to combat desertification as Regreening barren land programme (327), 5 Million Hectares of Reforestation Project (5MHRP), Hunger eradication & Poverty Alleviation Programme (HEPAP or Programme 135), National Action Programme on Environment (NAPE) Period These are now still under process. However, beside the great achievements the economic changing process has brought about stresses related to environment conservation. Those are environment conservation issues have not been adequately conceived among community and thoroughly grasped in socio-economic development plans; legislation system on environment conservation has not yet been perfected to meet demands of the new development period. Thoroughly aware of the worldwide importance of the environment conservation, The Government of Vietnam ratified UNCCD on 25 August, 1998 and became its official 134th party on 23 November of the same year. 7

14 Implementation of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Vietnam The implementation of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Vietnam officially started since in late 1998 and consists of setting up management system, establishing NAP and further perfecting legal environment to favour the UNCCD implementation. Setting up management system - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was designated to be National Focal Point (NFP). - National Coordination Body (NCB) established in 2000 comprising representatives from: Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Government Office (OG), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOA), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST); and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Chaired by a Vice-Minister of MARD - With the support from the Science and Technology Advisory Group (STAG) which consists of national and international experts specializing on different areas concerned, NCB Office is located at Department of Forestry. Preparation of National Action Programme - Six national conferences and meetings were held to discussing on UNCCD implementation with the participation of ministries, sectors and institutions, organizations concerned inside and outside of the country. - NFP with the technical support of STAG has collaborated with ministries/sectors and international consultants to prepare National Reports on the UNCCD implementation, which were sent to the 5th Conference of the Parties (COP5) and the 1st Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC1) in NAP was prepared in 2002 as a component of the national integrated socio-economic and environment conservation plan with the 4 priority issues namely as a) Forest development; b) Land use management; c) Water resources management - drought mitigation and, d) Hunger eradication and poverty alleviation. At present, NAP has been revised and supplemented for the period and orientation towards Mobilizing partners and implementing projects 8

15 - While actively seeking for UNCCD own partners, NFP and NCB has taken advantages of the backstopping support from the Forest Sector Support Programme and Partnership (FSSP & P) and the Natural Disaster Mitigation Partnership (NDM-Partnership) as a communication point to mobilize the international support for UNCCD implementation. There were 4 of 23 partnerships in FSSP&P providing expertise and financial support for NAP preparation. In addition, UNCCD Secretariat provides support to mobilize finance, Global mechanism provides financial support and UNESCAP supports volunteer experts. - Right in NAP perfection process, some important programmes/projects as 5MHRP, and HEPAP, NAPE have been implemented as integrated components of NAP. - MARD has just submitted to the GEF the Sustainable Management of Forest Land Support Programme and Partnership co-financed by Trust Fund of Forestry sector (TFF). This proposal has been approved by the GEF Vietnam, GEF Washington and the FSSP&P. Propagation on UNCCD and NAP - Disseminate documents about UNCCD to ministries/sectors related to UNCCD implementation at central and local levels. Frequently and actively promote activities of propagation, agitation, education about combating desertification, environment conservation and hunger eradication and poverty alleviation through mass media and mass meetings. Technical cooperation and information exchange Organized technical meetings, workshops on combating desertification Participated in COP and CRIC of UNCCD Joint action in RAP/SRAP: NAPE and NAP were developed towards integration with the South-East Asia and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) in the regional environment conservation. Some projects in Vietnam related to region and sub-region are: - Afforestation for sand dune fixation project in Central Coast funded by Government of Japan with total budget of about $15 million and project area of 12,000 ha. - RETA-5771 (Regional Environmental Technical Assistance 5771) for Poverty Reduction & Environmental Management in Remote Greater Mekong Sub-region Watersheds funded by Government of Finland (Phase I, ) and ADB (Phase II, ) covering Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Yun Nan province (China). - Sustainable resources management in Lower Mekong Basin Project funded by GTZ and covering the same as RETA project. 9

16 - Programme for Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certificate, which Vietnam participated in developing criteria, indicators and indexes of ASEAN and Vietnam. Some forest management models with FSC certificate will be established by Vietnam national scientific institutions were assigned to participate in Thematic Programme Network (TPN) of Asian Region as TPN1 for M&E of desertification process, TPN2 for studying Agro-forestry and Preventing land degradation, TPN3 for studying on Savanna and combating sand moving, TPN5 for strengthening capacity on forecasting drought and desertification, TPN6 for local integrated development programmes. 10

17 PART II. OVERVIEW ON UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME IN VIETNAM 2.1. Present situation and causes of desertification in Vietnam Land degradation/desertification in Vietnam is caused by land erosion, lateritization, drought, sand dune and moving sand bank, saline and sulfated land. This has caused the following four main types of degraded land: - Heavy degraded land including lateritized land on in sloping land in the North and Central region; - Land affected by sand dune and moving sand bank across Central coastal areas; - Saline and sulfated land in Mekong Delta; - Seasonal or permanent drought land in many areas particularly in South Central region and Highlands. Land desertification has happened in several areas of Vietnam. Among 9.34 million hectares of waste land, the affected area is larger than 7.5 million ha. The main causes for land desertification are drought, land degradation and moving sand bank (Table 1). Table 1. Classification of Land degradation in Vietnam Land type Heavy degraded land (including lateritized land) Sand dune and moving sand bank Seasonal or permanent drought land Land area (ha) 7,000,000 Whole country Concentrated area 400,000 Central coastal provinces 300,000 Eroded land 120,000 Saline and sulfated land 30,000 South Central (Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan and South of Khanh Hoa) Northwest, Central Highlands and others Mekong Delta (Long Xuyen Quadrangle) Source: Vietnam Institute of Forestry Science, 1999 Experienced from previous projects of reforestation, water resources management, hunger eradication and poverty alleviation. NAP focused on two essential issues in combating desertification i.e. (i) Eliminate or limit agents

18 causing desertification and; (ii) Rehabilitate, conserve and stabilize production potential of degraded land. Therefore, combating desertification in Vietnam practically are of stopping deforestation, preventing activities causing land degradation, mitigating drought enclosed with hunger eradication and poverty alleviation those should be put together in an integrated national action programme Objectives of National Action Programme NAP has 10 objectives being classified into 2 groups for 2 implementation periods, each objective may have one or a number of activities/projects correspondingly. Period (1). Establishing an information system (2). Perfecting legal basis for resources management (3). Raising forest resources management effect (4). Promoting land use management (5). Promoting water resources management and mitigating drought impacts (6). Meeting immediate needs of people living in affected areas Period (1). Towards the sustainable forest management (2). Towards the sustainable catchment management and limiting drought (3). Promoting the sustainable land and land use management (4). Continuation of HEPAP 2.3. Prioritized programmes/projects After identifying prioritized issues and areas, NAP proposed projects, which were arranged in 2 following groups: Implementing projects i. Forest protection and development, increase of green cover ( ) ii. Water resource improvement, drought and disaster impacts mitigating ( ) iii. Poverty Alleviation ( ) Enabling programmes i. Survey and assessment of the use of land, forests, water resources and drought situation in affected areas ( ) ii. Strengthen legal framework on natural resources sustainable management,

19 iii. Strengthen international cooperation, information exchange, training and education ( ) iv. Seeking for fund and formulating projects for NAP implementation v. Advanced science, technology and traditional knowledge promotion ( ) Prioritized areas The Central Coast, Northwest (upper Da river), Long Xuyen Triangle and Western Highlands were supposed as 4 prioritized areas. Solutions planned for each were included Implementation organization Responsibility assignment Table 2. Responsibility assignment for NCB members Ministries/Sectors Main functions/responsibilities Office of Government Member of the National Coordination Body In collaboration with the UNCCD Focal point, provide guidelines to implement NAP and international cooperation orientation for UNCCD implementation at national level. Provide recommendation to the Government in assessment and approval of programmes/projects and strategy for UNCCD implementation. MARD Plays role of Chairman and Standing Chairman of NCB and NFP, is responsible for elaborating and adopting NAP and submit to the Government for approval to meet the need of each time period, develops operation agenda of NCB, collaborates with members of NCB in M&E on UNCCD implementation, integrates with related ministries/sectors and localities in elaborating programmes/projects within NAP, is the coordination body to link all activities at national level and between national and sub-regional/regional/global level. Takes the main responsibility in data collection on affected areas; Monitors and evaluates impacts of programmes/projects and related policies to the natural resources and the livelihood of local population, especially of ethnic minorities; Participates in appraisal of programmes/projects as per the Government procedures; and supervises the UNCCD Focal Point 13

20 office. MONRE MOFA MPI MOFI Ministry of Science and Technology Plays the vice-chairman role of NCB. Cooperates closely with Ministries/Sectors and localities in natural resources and environment assessment, disaster tendency. Takes the main responsibility in providing information on environment and natural resources, disasters. Participates in appraisal of programmes/projects. Makes plans for M&E of impacts of disasters and human beings on environment, natural resources, socio-economy. Member of the National Coordination Body Coordinates closely with NFP and NCB members international cooperation activities related to UNCCD; takes part and assists NCB and NFP in following international procedures to ensure national active participation; is the focal source of information related to international initiatives related to UNCCD at global/regional and sub-regional level. Member of the National Coordination Body Plays important role in appraisal of programmes/projects, coordinates investment plans, recommend to the Government in plans/programmes/projects approval process, and assess efficiency of programmes/projects. Member of the National Coordination Body Takes part in appraisal and recommend to the Government in programmes/projects approval process. Mobilizes and coordinates financial resources, makes financial plans to implement UNCCD. Conducts M&E and provide guidelines for efficient use of budget. Member of the National Coordination Body Takes part in appraisal and M&E process to programmes/projects. Prepares science and technology plan for management of natural resources and environment. Syntherizes and withdraws good lessons from past projects/programs; Makes plans for development of advanced technology for calamity warning and remedial measures; develops a database of combating desertification. 14

21 Research institutes, universities, etc. Local People s Committees of affected areas Provide technical assistance, supports in scientific research, training, and technology transfer to elaborate and implement programmes/projects. Is the main actor to implement UNCCD at field level. Takes main responsibility to identify activities and priority areas for UNCCD concern. Elaborates programmes/projects for local areas, makes plans, implements and monitors NAP implementation process. Participates in evaluation of efficiency of programmes/projects. Makes suggestions to implement NAP. Provides information on constraints and suggests on solutions Activity mechanism Activities in combating desertification have been undertaken basing on the close cooperation between ministries/sectors and institutions concerned. Conferences, meetings at central and local levels to review and evaluate NAP implementation process (prevention of land degradation, drought control etc.) hence plan subsequent activities. Leaders and representatives from ministries/sectors will be involved for submitting ideas for perfecting NAP and commitments of their sectors. Conclusions of the meetings will be communicated to all participants and sectors concerned (i.e. stakeholders) to guarantee a unified, synchronous and effective cooperation. Stakeholders from central to local levels have to send progressing reports on UNCCD implementation to NFP (MARD) Composition and working mechanism of STAG STAG consists of representatives from national institutions studying on issues related to management of land, forests and water resources, evaluating socioeconomic-environmental impacts of NAP projects, forecasting drought and natural calamities. STAG also takes the role as a focal point of Vietnam in TFN and in linkage of activities of Vietnam to that of region and worldwide on combating desertification. Table 3: Members of the Science and Technology Advisory Group (STAG) No. Institutions Tasks 1. Forest Inventory and Planning TPN1 for M&E of desertification Institute (FIPI) process 2. Center for research on ecology TPN2 for studying Agro-forestry and and forestry environment, Forest Preventing land degradation in Science Institute of Vietnam Northern region 15

22 (FSIV) 3. Hochiminh Research center for science, technology and Agriculture Projection 4. Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV) 5. Division for forestry fundamental research - Department of Forestry, MARD 6. Vietnam Forestry Science and TPN2 for studying Agro-forestry and Preventing land degradation in Southern region TPN3 for studying on Savanna and combating sand moving TPN5 for strengthening capacity on forecasting drought and desertification TPN6 for local integrated development programmes. Technique Association 7. Water Resources University Consultants of Water Resources University and water resource management 8. Research center for agricultural meteorology - Institute of Hydrometeorology - MONRE 9. National Institute for Soils and Fertilizers (NISF) Consultants of Hydrometeorology Consultants of soils NCB will be supported by STAG to develop criteria for monitoring and evaluation of activities as well as impacts of NAP to socio-economicenvironmental situation of desertification affected areas STAG has also support in updating information, preparing annual National Report on UNCCD implementation in Vietnam. STAG will support localities to direct priority issues and establishing projects under framework of NAP Mechanism for local participation and role of local people The local authorities should be given a greater freedom in combining resources at their disposal for implementing local projects in the framework of NAP to be able to make more effective use of natural resources. Further, the district level is probably the best one for ensuring local cohesiveness between the several components of the NAP. This result to district may formulate and manage a larger scale project under NAP basing on local inputs. Bottom up approach is respected over the implementation process as baseline survey, planning and plan implementation. Community-based resources management is considered as the most effective system in combining conservation and sustainable development. 16

23 PART III. ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS IN COMBATING DESERTIFICATION OF GOV AND UNCCD 3.1. Achievements On institutions and policies The Government has submitted to the National Assembly for review, and approval to law documents concerned as Law on Forest Protection and Development, Land Law, Law on Water Resources, etc. Set up, initiated and completed some synchronic strategies on land, water and forest resources; Established the National Action Programme to combat desertification, which is completed for period of to submit for the Government approval by the end of 2005; Set up regulations for management of resources, which are of importance to combat desertification; Promulgated policies to support land, water and forest management through programmes 135 and 327, etc. to raise living standard of people especially those living in upland, remote areas have actively participated in land, water and forests protection; Carried out land and forest allocation to enable people actively participating in protection and development of forests and other natural resources; Continued 5 million hectares of reforestation programme to target forest cover of 43% in Activities combating desertification (MARD programmes/projects) After the inovation Doi moi process, Vietnam Government has approved many programs/projects concerning management of land, water and forest resources in order to strengthen capacity of all levels to manage and protect natural resources and actively contribute to hunger eradication and poverty alleviation. The followings are some importants programs/projects Programs/projects conducted prior Vietnam accession to the UNCCD (prior to November 1998) FORESTRY (1) National Barren Land Re-greening Program (Program 327). The program was designed to prevent soil erosion, land degradation and to reclaim degraded land for agriculture and forestry production. The overall objectives of the program were: (i) To make an economically better use of the unused barren land; (ii) To increase the watershed capacity of the country by planting protection forests; and (iii) To improve the protection of national parks and other nature reserves (so-called special-use forests). (2) Projects in World Food Program (called in Vietnam as PAM Program). 17

24 Aim at rehabilitating forests in several provinces, focusing on household and community forest development, creating job opportunities and extra income for poorer in rural areas. (3) Up land agriculture and forestry extension program: The program focused on establishing demonstration models and an extension worker system from commune to provincial level. There were 8 such programs being performed with agro-forestry activities, sustainable cultivation on slopping lands and degraded lands, increase of forest quality by using technical advantages, selection and transformation of seed production forests, indigenous plant species, scattered tree planting, preventing diseases and forest fires, increasing plant quality, wood processing, non-timber forest products, training, technical transfer and extension. About 10 projects were granted with some VND 3 billions budget. In such a way, about 300 staffs was trained annually, 30 demonstration models were established, and 24,000 leaflets for introducing planting trees and 5,700 handbooks for farmers. Thanks to this program and other small grant projects, forest land was increased 1.3 million hectares compared with Natural forests were better protected and soil erosion was partly improved. These achievements have considerably contributed in hunger eradication and poverty alleviation. (4) Reforestation through Local Credit Scheme in Provinces Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri: An on-going project co-funded by Germany Development Bank (KFW) and the Government, focus on forest rehabilitation, barren land reclamation and job - income creation for local inhabitants. WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND DROUGHT CONTROL Among water resource management projects implemented in period , some were directly concerned with drought overcoming and soil erosion prevention. (1) Irrigation Rehabilitation Project in Central Vietnam : Funded by WB soft loan and Government. Seven irrigation works were established as Cam Thuy, South Nghe An, Linh Cam, An Trach, Thach Nham, etc. to water a large cultivated land area of several provinces. (2) Irrigation, Flood Prevention and Rehabilitation Project : Implemented in some coastal provinces with fund source from WB soft loan and the Government. (3) Upgrading and Rehabilitation of Sea Dykes in Northern Vietnam, : Co-funded by World Food Program s grant and Government designed to prevent sea flooding and land salination along the coast. (4) North Van Nao Water Control Project, : Funded by an AUSAID s grant and the Government contribution. (5) Lower AYUN Irrigation Project, in Central Highlands: Cofunded by Kuwait s loan and the Government budget. It was designed to 18

25 improve irrigation for hundred thousands ha of arid land in Gia Lai province which is often affected by sever drought during the dry season. HUNGER ERADICATION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION Hunger-poverty is one of main reasons leading to soil and environment degradation. Following are some of the most important projects implemented for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation: (1) Rural Mountainous Infrastructure Construction Program: The objective is to create a favorable environment for developing rural economy, stabilizing people s livelihood. Activities include construction of inter-commune roads, electricity supply, primary schools, health care stations, clean water supplying units and commune markets. (2) Ethnic Community Resettlement Program: The objective is to completely resettle shift-cultivators and to stop slash-and-burn practices in mountainous areas. Activities include: (i) Establishing new villages/communes for resettling 1 million ethnic shift-cultivators in Tay Nguyen and those coming from the North; (ii) Constructing infrastructure such as roads, schools, health care points, electric network, clean water systems etc. in the newly-resettled villages/communes; (iii) Allocating land and providing tools, seeds, fertilizers to the resettled families; and (iv) Providing further assistance to the people resettled in the previous years to stabilize their life and to prevent re-shift. (3) Handicraft Development Program: The objective is to create jobs and income opportunities for the poor. That includes: (i) Providing loans to the poor for reclaiming fallow land and redeeming the mortgaged land to sustain agricultural and forestry production, enabling all land-wanting people to have production land; (ii) Providing tools such as ploughs, hoes, fishing nets and boats, constructing livestock breeding cages/stables, and fish-rearing pools; (iii) Providing assistance to restore traditional handicrafts and develop public services for income; and (iv) Providing vocational and on-job training. (4) Credit Program: The objective is to provide the poor with soft-loans for developing production. Criteria will be established to provide the loans to the correct borrowers and correct objectives, and to reduce cumbersome procedures and corruption. Research is needed to identify the loan term and amount appropriate to the production cycle or rotation to ensure effective investment. (5) Education Assistance Program: The objective is to eradicate illiteracy of ethnic communities in the deep-remote mountains, to enable the poor children to go to school. Activities include: (i) Providing the poor children with reduced-fee or free-of-charge education, fellowships, handbooks, notebooks etc.; (ii) Giving priorities for admitting poor children from ethnic minorities to high schools or universities; (iii) Adopting appropriate policy and attractive incentives to promote teachers from plains and cities to work in the mountains; and (iv) Encouraging helping the setting up of educational extension associations and education assistance voluntary bodies in the mountains. 19

26 (6) Health Care Assistance Program: The objective is to enable the poor to use health care services free-of-charge or reduced-charge. Activities include: (i) Providing Health Care Insurance Card to the poor to use health care services in the public (Government) health care centers;(ii) Providing free-of-charge medicines and training health care staff (physicians, nurses) for the poor communes; and (iii) Distributing information and methodology on diseasepreventive hygiene, campaigning against superstition, negative-backward customs, and opium addiction. (7) Agriculture, Forestry, Fishery, and Business Extension and Technology Transfer Program: The objective is to provide the poor with know-how and technologies in respective production and business. The activities include: (i) Organizing in-place training courses to train core extension worker in selecting quality seeds, mother cattle, in know-how of small business and services; (ii) Organizing study tours to advanced farmers or businessmen to promote exchanges of experiences; and (iii) Facilitating the setting up of occupational associations and cooperative bodies. (8) Poverty Alleviation Staff Training Program: The objective is to provide qualified staff for the poverty Alleviation Bodies both at central and local level. Activities include organizing training courses at central, provincial and district level on policy development, planning, implementation, promotion of grass-root participation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Above are important projects mentioned in NAP. Besides, a considerable number of projects concerned were implemented by other institutions as Science and Technology Institute of Vietnam, Department of Planning, Department of International cooperation and Department of Science and Technology of MARD and MONRE Programs/projects conducted after Vietnam accession to the UNCCD onwards (from November 1998 upto now) - Protect and sustainably develop forests and increase green cover ( ) Continue to implement 5 Million Hectare Reforestation program; Set up plantations for sand dune fixation; Protect mangrove forests; Promote of agroforestry-fishery ecological solutions; Implement projects within (Forest Sector Support Program (FSSP) to protect watershed forests, conserve biodiversity, increase forest cover, develop key commercial forests linked with processing and consumption activities; Develop agro-forestry in suitable areas to improve livelihood, ensure food security and meet the fuel demand of local people; set up green areas in urban and industrial zones; plant trees along roads. - Improve water resources, limit impacts of drought and disasters, Protect watershed forests, protection forests and irrigation systems, maintain water sources in dry season; set up irrigation systems and reservoirs to keep 20

27 water in rainy season and provide water in dry season; Develop production plans suitable with water potential and other natural conditions in each area; Organize and operate effectively irrigation network; rehabilitate water resource in most affected areas; Set up irrigation and drainage systems; protect mangrove forests; Limit unsuitable shrimp farming to protect environment. - Poverty alleviation ( ) Set up and adopt legal framework to meet the demand of local people and encourage active participation of population in the poor areas in resources management activities; Establish projects for improvement of livelihood of local people in remote areas affected by land degradation, deforestation, especially in forest areas; Research on solutions to link resources management with poverty reduction, especially the financing and technical options. These are three priority programs to prevent land degradation, repair land desertification and integrate with hunger alleviation and poverty reduction. These programs will be more focused on 04 priority regions: Northeast, Long Xuyen Quadrangle, Central Coast and Central Highland (in the map) (See the map) Supporting programs (1) Survey and assessment of affected areas and update information on the utilization of land-water-forest resources and drought ( ) Development and improvement of legal framework to meet the need of human life and encourage the active participation of people in poverty region in resource management activities; development of project to improve the living condition of people in desertification area, especially the people in forest area; study the options which integrate hunger alleviation and poverty reduction activities with environmental management activities (water resource, land and forestry resources, biodiversity conservation) and especially the technical and financial support (2) Strengthen legal framework on natural resources sustainable management,